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National Current Affairs | Access the Latest Happenings across India

1. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju has inaugurated 7th Edition of ‘Kathakar: International Storytellers Festival’ at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi.

Kathakar is a special initiative to promote the oral storytelling tradition which has existed across the world.

2. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare launched the National Strategic Plan 2017-24 which aimed at eradicating HIV/AIDS by 2030.

It was launched on the World AIDS Day.

3. The Telangana Government is going to set up the world’s first Information and Technology (IT) Campus for differently-abled persons (divyangs) in state capital Hyderabad.

The aim is to focus on creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs).

4. The first International Exhibition and Conference on AYUSH and Wellness Sector- AROGYA 2017 was held in New Delhi.

It was organized by FICCI in collaboration with Union Ministry of AYUSH and Ministry of Commerce & Industry and Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil).

Its theme was ‘Enhancing the global potential of AYUSH’.

5. The 22nd Conference of Asian Harmonization Working Party (AHWP) was recently held in New Delhi.

The key objective of the conference was to develop and recommend approaches for convergence and harmonization of medical device regulations in Asia.

6. The first International Conference on Sports Medicine & Sports Sciences SAICON 2017 was held in New Delhi.

The aim was to promote scientific temperament in the country and inspire students, researchers and educationists alike to take up sports science and research to the next level.

7. The MSME has launched Public Procurement Portal MSME Sambandh for monitoring of Public Procurement Policy.

The objective of the portal is to monitor the implementation of the Public Procurement from MSEs by the Central Public-Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).

8. Goa CM Manohar Parrikar has launched the Jai Kisaan App, a farmer engagement app packed with features and functions to fulfill the needs of the farmers community in India.

It is a one-stop solution for agricultural information and cultivation, covering crop nutrition, protection, seeds, and diagnostic services.

9. The HUA Ministry has approved the construction of 1.12 lakh more affordable houses for urban poor under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban).

There will be an investment of Rs 8,105 crore for construction of these houses. The Centre will provide an assistance of Rs 1,681 crore for their construction.

10. The 6th International Tourism Mart was inaugurated by Assam Government in Guwahati, Assam on 5th December 2017.

The mart aims to put special emphasis on India’s Act East Policy, blossoming ties with ASEAN and the larger East Asia region and India’s emerging tourism markets.

11. Indian Railways will accept payments through UPI and BHIM app for booking railway tickets from reservation counters.

12. Karnataka is the second safest state in South India, after Andhra Pradesh, and has one of the lowest crime rates in the country.

The data has been provided according to Crime in India – 2016 report by the NCRB.

13. The central government has decided to set up two examination centres in Kashmir Valley- Srinagar and Baramulla, for the 2018 post-graduate National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).

14. Uttar Pradesh’s Shamlidistrict was included in the National Capital Region (NCR), making it the 23rd district to be included in the region.

The NCR includes thirteen districts of Haryana, eight districts of UP, and two districts of Rajasthan.

15. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for continuation of centrally sponsored scheme National AYUSH Mission (NAM) from April 2017 to March 2020.

The government has finalized an outlay of INR 2400 crore over a 3-year period to provide cost-effective AYUSH services.

16. The CCEA has approved Capital Investment Subsidy amounting to INR 264.67 crore to four industrial units located in North Eastern Region (NER) including Sikkim.

It has been approved under Central Capital Investment Subsidy Scheme (CCISS), 2007 of North East Industrial Investment and Promotion Policy (NEIIPP), 2007.

17. Meghalaya became the first state in the country to operationalize The Meghalaya Community Participation and Public Services Social Audit Act, 2017.

It is a law that makes a social audit of government programmes and schemes, a part of government practice.

18. The NGT has imposed a complete ban on use, sale, purchase and storage of plastic items such as carry bags, plates and spoons in towns of Haridwar and Rishikesh till upper areas of Uttarkashi along the Ganga River in Uttarakhand.

The move was taken to tackle and prevent pollution of the Ganga.

19. National Workshop on Role of Sakhi One Stop Centres (OSCs) was held in New Delhi.

It provided the common platform to understand, discuss and deliberate on strengthening multisector response to address violence against women across the country.

20. The NITI Aayog’s Atal Innovation Mission launched the Atal Tinkering Lab’s Community Day in New Delhi.

The initiative is aimed at maximizing the impact of Atal Tinkering Labs by extending innovation to children in the community who do not have access to the formal educational institutions.

21. Rajasthan has become the first state in India to launch free email addressesinHindi for its residents.

It is the first large hydropower project in Mizoram which will boost the socio-economic development of the state.

28. The J&K Government has launched SAUBHAGYA (Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojna) with an aim to provide free electricity connections to poor people in the state.

SAUBHAGYA, an initiative taken by the prime minister, seeks to provide electricity to 4 crore families across the country by December 2018.

29. The Government extended the deadline for linking of Aadhar with bank accounts to 31st March 2018.

30. Rajasthan Government has increased the age limit to apply for top government jobs from 35 to 40 years.

31. The Union Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation has formally launched the Ganga Gram Project at the Ganga Gram Swachhata Sammelan held in New Delhi.

The objectives of the project include solid and liquid waste management, water conservation projects, renovation of ponds and water resources, organic farming, horticulture, and promotion of medicinal plants.

32. The NHAI has created a promotion cell named NHIPC for attracting domestic and foreign investment for highways projects.

The cell will focus on engaging with global institution investors, developers, construction companies and fund managers for building investor participation in road infrastructure projects.

33. India’s first and only design university World University of Design(WUD) has opened its campus at Sonipat, Haryana.

The university is dedicated to education in creative domain.

34. The Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of Ministry of Railways to set up first ever National Rail and Transport University (NRTU) in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build capability.

The University will be set up as Deemed to Be University under de novo category as per UGC (Institutions Deemed to be Universities) Regulations, 2016.

The first academic program is expected to be launched in July 2018.

35. The NITI Aayog is planning to set up Methanol Economy Fund worth INR 4,000-5,000 crore to promote production and use of the clean fuel.

The fund will be utilized for the production of cheaper, safer and pollution free methanol fuel by converting high ash content coal and stranded gas assets into methanol.

36. The Union Ministry of Railways in an eco-friendly measure to reduce power consumption, has planned to make all stations 100% LED lit by March 2018.

Under this initiative, the national transporter will provide 100% LED lighting for energy needs in railway staff colonies, stations and platforms.

Patnaik also unveiled the logo of the event and mascot of the meet Olly.

38. BJP has won 2017Assembly Elections in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

The BJP has won 99 of Gujarat’s 182 assembly seats. Congress has won 79 seats in Gujarat.

This is 6th consecutive assembly election victory for BJP in Gujarat.

The BJP has won 44 of Himachal’s 68 assembly seats. Congress has won 21 seats in Himachal.

39. The Andhra Pradesh Government in association with the UNESCO MGIEP is planning to establish a centre of excellence for children as well as a gaming for e-learning hub.

It will be the first of its kind in India and in Asia-Pacific region.

40. The two-day event, 17th Indian Science Communication Congress (ISCC-2017) was held in New Delhi.

The event aimed at promoting communication of India’s scientific wisdom.

41. A Regional Conference on Good Governance and Replication of Best Practices was held in Guwahati.

The conference is an effort to create a common platform to share experiences in the formulation and implementation of citizen-centric governance, improved public service delivery, Good Governance Index.

The CM participated as the chief guest at the 101st Founder’s Day of the KVB.

43. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line along with UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath.

The Magneta line is 12.64-kilometer-long which is equipped with communications-based train control technology. This technology allows driverless operations of the trains.

44. Karnataka’s capital city Bengaluru has become the first Indian city to get its own logo.

Brand Bengaluru gets its own logo and the tagline ‘Bengaluru- Be U’ (Be You).

The red and black logo is part English and part Kannada made by Bengalureans themselves.

The Bengaluru becomes the part of global cities like New York City, Melbourne, and Singapore to have a tourism logo of its own.

45. President Ramnath Kovind inaugurated the 100th Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association at Acharya Nagarjuna University in Guntur of Andhra Pradesh.

Indian Economic Association is a registered body of Indian economic professionals, established way back in 1917.

Its objective is to provide a forum for debate and discussion of policy-oriented issues.

46. The 105th edition of the historic Indian Science Congress will be held at Manipur University, Imphal in March.

Since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, the ISC was traditionally the first public function the Prime Minister addressed in the calendar year.

The annual event which is on the Prime Minister’s calendar in January, was postponed for the first time in its over 100-year history after Osmania University expressed inability to organize it due to the security reasons.

47. The Centre has recognized Odisha as a ‘Champion State’ for recording the highest growth in exports during 2016-17, official sources said.

This was announced during a review meeting of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the export performance of states and formulation of strategy attended by L. N. Gupta, MSME Additional Chief Secretary, Odisha.

The exports from the state have increased from INR 19,082 crore in 2015-16 to INR 40,872 crore in 2016-17

48. India’s first AC local train flagged off in Mumbai from Borivali station to Church gate in the southern part of Mumbai.

The services will replace 12 existing non-air-conditioned services.

The train will make six trips daily (12 Services) from Church gate to Vihar.

Due to the maintenance issues, the train will not operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

49. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has launched a biography based on chronicles of his early struggle and lesser known aspects of his life.

Titled ‘Trivendra Ek Zindaginama – Khairasain ka Sooraj’, the book is written by a doctor named Nandan Singh Bisht.

50. UP Government has launched a free household power connection scheme for the poor in the state to mark former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary.

The government has a target of covering 16 million by 2018-end under the scheme ‘Prakash hai to vikas hai’.

The government has also introduced ‘Kisan Uday Yojana’ scheme for farmers, under which existing 5 HP/7.5 HP submersible and coupling sets will be replaced free of cost.

51. The Odisha government has decided to set up a unique ‘Heritage Cabinet’ and an Odia Language Commission as part of its move to preserve the relics and monuments in the state and to enrich its rich culture and language.

Heritage Cabinet’ would be headed by the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. It would aim to protect ancient monuments, temples and archaeological sites in Odisha, and take steps to preserve the state’s culture, language and literature.

52. UP Chief Minister Yogi Aditya Nath has announced new metro projects for Agra and Kanpur in the states.

The Chief Minister announced two major expressways in Purvanchal and Bundelkhand.

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) | Get the Best Information Out of Top Agreements

These two APAs pertain to Electronics and Technology sectors of the economy.

It also covers international transactions that include Distribution, Provision of Business Support Services, Provision of Marketing Support Services etc.

2. India and Cuba have signed MoU for enhanced cooperation in the health sector.

It aims at exchange and training of medical doctors, officials, other health professionals and experts.

It also aims at providing assistance in the development of human resources, health services and setting up of healthcare facilities.

3. The Union Health Ministry and Rotary International India National PolioPlus have signed MoU for intensive efforts achieving the immunization target.

The MoU aims to provide collaborative support and accelerate efforts under Polio Eradication Programme, Routine Immunization including Mission Indradhanush.

4. The Maharashtra Government signed 34 MoUs with leading corporate houses to take ahead its ambitious project of social transformation of 1,000 villagesacross Maharashtra.

The move aims at benefiting more than 75 lakh people with a budget of INR 335 crore.

5. The Union Cabinet approved the establishment of International Training Centre for Operational Oceanography (ITCOO), as a Category-2 Centre (C2C) of UNESCO, in Hyderabad, Telangana.

The purpose of this agreement is to establish training centre towards the development of capacity for countries on Indian Ocean Rim (IOR), African countries bordering Indian and Atlantic Oceans, small island countries under the framework of UNESCO.

6. India and Morocco have signed MoU for enhanced cooperation in the health sector. The main areas of cooperation under MoU are: –

Communicable Diseases.

Maternal, child and neonatal health.

Hospital twinning for the exchange of good practices.

Drug Regulation and Pharmaceutical quality control.

Training in administration and management of health services and Hospitals

The purpose of the FSOC project is to provide high quality & affordable digital services through internet under state government’s Fiber Grid project.

16. A financing agreement for IDA Credit of USD 125 million (equivalent) for the STRIVE Project was signed by the Government of India with the World Bank in New Delhi.

The objective of the operation is to improve access to quality and market-driven vocational training provided in it is and apprenticeships.

The closing date for the project is 30th November 2022.

17. A memorandum of understanding is signed between Uttar Pradesh Government and South Korea to enhance cooperation in the field of tourism, skill development, culture and farming.

MoU was signed for giving a new dimension to cooperation in the field of tourism, skill development, culture and farming, which will provide more employment opportunities and development.

18. The Government of Tamil Nadu and the World Bank have signed a $318 million loan agreement for the Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project to promote climate resilient agriculture technologies, improve water management practices, and increase market opportunities for small and marginal farmers.

About 500,000 farmers of which a majority are small and marginal, are expected to get benefit from improved and modernized tank irrigation systems.

The project will rehabilitate and modernize about 4,800 irrigation tanks and 477 check dams, spread across 66 sub-basins, in delivering bulk water to irrigation systems.

19. The Union Government has inked Loan agreement with World Bank for $40 Million IBRD Credit for “Uttar Pradesh Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project”.

The project size is approximately $57.14 million, of which $40 million will be financed by World Bank, and remaining amount will be funded out of Stat.

The objective of UP Pro-Poor Tourism Development Project is to increase tourism-related benefits for local communities in targeted destinations.

20. Bank of Baroda entered into MoU with POORTI Agri Services Pvt. Ltd to enable the farmers to purchase agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, seeds etc. provided by POORTI.

This is a Platform for Online Ordering & Rural Transformation of India known as “POORTI”.

They will work jointly to provide a digital platform for farmers to buy agri products online through Payment gateway of the bank.

Banking Awareness & Economics Current Affairs | Understand the Top Trends in India

1. CBDT has extended the date for linking Aadhaar with PAN till 31st of March 2018.

All taxpayers having Aadhaar Number or Enrolment Number are required to link the same with Permanent Account Number.

2. The Reserve Bank of India(RBI) has released the Fifth Bi-Monthly Policy 2017-18. The key policy rates are: –

Repo Rate- 6% (Unchanged)

Reverse Repo Rate- 5.75% (Unchanged)

Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) Rate- 6.25% (Unchanged)

Bank Rate- 6.25% (Unchanged)

Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR)- 4% (Unchanged)

Statutory Liquidity Ratio (SLR)- 19.5% (Changed from 201% to 19.5%).

The Inflation forecast for the remainder of the current financial year was raised to 4.3-4.7 percent.

3. The Union Government has constituted a high-level committee headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant to address the problem of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs).

It comprises secretaries in the ministries of power, coal and department of financial services as its members.